C. Bromberg 1 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 RPC Monolithic Detector l Most absorber shipped direct to the site äShipping minimized äHeavy (~20 Ton) object handling minimized l 3D stiffness unnecessary l Assembly simplified, tolerances relaxed l Factories ship RPCs (w/RRA) direct to site l All readout strips reach detector edges äNo cables for vertical strips äFewer readout channels äElectronics integration easier l Minimize levels of gas manifold l Large overlap with Liquid Scintillator Comparison of RPC Modular and Monolithic Detector Is Monolithic much cheaper ?Why Modular ? l RPC module replacement is possible. l Parallel assembly at two or more locations l Testing can be done with final readout electronics, HV and gas hookup to RPCs l Detector construction can begin before building is available. l Staging and storage areas are readily available. l Moving detector to new site might be possible. l Full detectors are constructed in a university or laboratory environment.

C. Bromberg 2 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 Particleboard for Monolithic Detector Seen with my own eyes l 8’ x 28’ (2.44 x 8.53 m 2 ) is the size of boards out of the press. l Elastic properties are surprising. Pick and place should be easy. l Gaylord has forklifts that easily handle a 2 ft high stack, and often do. l INDOOR rail spur the full length of the press building l “Flakeface” product is homogeneous and needs NO SANDING. l Lamination of Flakeface can be as strong as the material itself. l Thickness up to 1 7/16 inch, perhaps 1 1/2 without sanding. l Production (300 kT/year) with indoor storage for 1 year’s production. Gaylord MI Particleboard

C. Bromberg 3 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 Bookend Design for Monolithic Detector l Bookend with 20 installed planes (2%) of detector. l RPC and absorber weight transferred to floor supports l Readout boards 1” thick with strips in the long dimension l Two assembly components ä7” thick plate with 6 plain boards + 1 readout board äRRA: 3 RPCs mounted on a 1” readout board Rich Talaga / Vic Guarino concept

C. Bromberg 4 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 RPC design for Monolithic Detector l No significant change from the modular detector design l RPC dimensions: 2.43 x 2.84 m 2 l Active area approximately cm less in each dimension (1.2% loss) l Glass corner cutouts 10 cm x 10 cm (0.3% loss) l Replaced with multipurpose corner block (Ivars Ambats - design) äCorner gas seal äInlet/Outlet gas ports äHV connector äHole for bolt

C. Bromberg 5 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 Absorber plates with vertical readout strips l Natural detector dimensions are 17.06m x m (2 board lengths) x (7 board widths) Create 7 layer thick absorber plates ä6 raw boards and 1 with strips in long dimension äClearance holes for bolts (4 per plate) äInterlock with neighbor  2.7 Tons each l Bolts äKeep each block in vertical plane äNo vertical loads on the bolts äExtendable. Vertical strips on front face

C. Bromberg 6 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 RPC Readout Assemblies (RRA) RRA äHorizontal readout board with bottom shelf ä3 RPCs on a shelf with side & top clips äGas plumbing between RPCs äHV cables to each RPC  Holes through readout boards l Stack RRAs äSeven RRAs vertically äNo vertical loads on the bolts äExtendable. l West side view

C. Bromberg 7 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 Pattern of RPCs and Bolt Holes l Bolt hole pattern in vertical boards l RPC pattern with RRAs bolted in place l Note: holes sizes are not to scale l True size is less than 1/4 of the strip width

C. Bromberg 8 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 Horizontal Strip Board RPC Vertical Strips Top View of Detector (17 meters high) Absorber

C. Bromberg 9 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 RRA based Monolithic Detector l Readout Strip Board Factory äAll strips run the board length äHalf the boards have - Fixtures to mount RPCs - Gas & HV routing. l RPC Factory l RRA Assembly Factory. l Seven layer plates assembled at Detector Site ä75% of particleboards shipped direct to Detector Site ä25% pass through Readout Strip Factory Four Fabrication Facilities

C. Bromberg 10 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 Double Gap RPCs l 1/2” thick, like a glass table top l 4’ x 9’ glass table top weighing 185 lbs supported only at the ends l Use the (4) corner blocks for a chamber twice as large l Gas seals protect the glass edges l RPCs will slide on one edge l Corner blocks for mechanical link. gas and HV daisy chains l Allows RPC Rack Solution to Access Concerns

C. Bromberg 11 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 RPC Rack instead of Sandwich l 3” particleboard and 1” with copper strips laminated into a large block. l Two blocks bolted together, one with horizontal and one with vertical strips. l Bolts run through dowels that separate the two blocks by 1/2” RPC + clearance. l 3 RPCs slide in on the dowels one at a time, with mechanical, gas, and HV connections between them l Corner blocks serve many functions

C. Bromberg 12 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 RPC Rack to Scale l With strip factory at detector site, all particleboard shipped there (75% if remote).

C. Bromberg 13 Michigan State University Feb. 8, 2004 l Modular RPC detector concept has advantages, in part social and at a cost. During R&D, confidence in RPC technology will be raised and cost effective technique will be developed. l Monolithic detector, particularly with double gap RPCs, offers a low cost, low risk soluton l A design allowing access in a monolithic detector looks possible. Summary